Volunteers at Dunfermline Samaritans attended a parliamentary reception to celebrate the charity’s 70th anniversary.

Volunteers with the Samaritans from across Scotland attended the event at the Scottish Parliament.

It was hosted by shadow mental health minister, Paul Sweeney MSP, and MSPs and guests heard from a range of speakers including Samaritans Scotland executive director, Neil Mathers, Samaritans regional director for Scotland John Knight, and Samaritans Scotland trustee, Amanda Millar.

Adrienne Rennie, a Samaritans caller from Lanarkshire, also spoke about the ‘life-changing’ impact of her conversation with a helpline volunteer back in 2019.

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Claire Blanchflower, director of Dunfermline Samaritans, said: “It was wonderful to be invited to the Scottish Parliament to mark the 70th anniversary of Samaritans, and to see the dedication of volunteers, past and present, celebrated so proudly.

“The role of a Samaritans volunteer is not without its challenges, but is hugely rewarding and it was lovely to meet and enjoy a sense of camaraderie with other volunteers from all over Scotland on the evening.”

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Information stalls were also available on the Samartians’ work across the country, including its role as a Strategic Outcome Lead on Scotland’s suicide prevention strategy, Creating Hope Together.

Neil Mathers, executive director of Samaritans Scotland, said: “In Scotland, we have almost 1,000 volunteers based in branches across the country, and it was wonderful to welcome some of them to the Scottish Parliament to celebrate the impact the dedication of Samaritans volunteers has had over the last 70 years.

“UK-wide, Samaritans’ 23,000 volunteers respond to a call for help every 10 seconds.”

Samaritans can be contacted for free seven days a week, 365 days a year on 116 123, email jo@samaritans.org, or visit their website.